HUSTON WANTS TO BE A FATHER LIKE HIS DAD

It’s important that you know how proud James Street was of his son Huston that day. It’s critical that you understand that tears filled his eyes and chills occupied his body.

If you don’t, you might think that Street’s reaction to Huston winning American League Rookie of the Year eight years ago was dismissive or callous. You might not see the affection behind him saying “they give you that award for what you’ve already done, not for what you’re going to do.”

Again, don’t be mistaken. Street didn’t see a 98 on one of his kids’ tests as 2 percent short of perfection — he saw it as 100 percent over. In his view, focusing on past success was the best way to impede it in the future, and honestly, who in the heck was going to argue with him?

If you are not familiar with James Street, father to Padres closer Huston Street and four other young men, you have clearly never resided in the Lone Star State. Going 20-0 as the starting quarterback for the University of Texas, the man led the Longhorns to the 1969 national football title and tossed two no-hitters for the baseball team.

At the height of his fame, James befriended country music stars Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, and once hung backstage with Elvis. But when standing next to Street in Texas, not even Mr. Presley could claim to be king.

Perhaps this is why at the age of 5, Huston decided that he was going to copy his old man by playing quarterback and pitching at Texas. He ended up ditching the QB part after high school but earned College World Series Most Outstanding Player honors in 2002.

What resulted was a proud papa who beamed with fatherly delight. Not because his son won, but because — get this — he gave it his all.

“Some days, you’re best isn’t going to be good enough, but that doesn’t make you a loser,” said James, 64. “I tell my kids that I am going to love you just the same if you’re the greatest player in the world or a nobody, but if you are not giving 110 percent, even if you win, I’m going to be disappointed.”

Take whatever notion you have of a former A-list athlete and rip it to shreds when it comes to James Street. Never did he care if one of his boys went on to sports success, and nary would he bring up his collegiate past unless it was to teach a lesson.

Huston, 29, could not recall ever seeing memorabilia around the Austin, Texas, home in which he was raised, and used to wonder why his dad would always speak at public functions but never his friends’ fathers.

The idea, James said, was to try to and create as authentic an atmosphere as possible so as to shield his children from a sense of entitlement. And while the kids were eventually made aware of pop’s stardom, the message was clear: When it came to making it in life, the Streets would have to find their own avenues.

“My dad was always on us to stay humble, and he would tell us that every day you either get a little better or a little worse.” said Huston, who has converted 11 of 12 save opportunities for the Padres this year despite a career-high 4.43 ERA. ”He was hard on us, but at the same time he loved us.”

This tough love was perhaps made most apparent when Huston was pitching in a Little League game as a 10-year-old. Despite being the manager of Huston’s team, James was asked to call balls and strikes because the umpire didn’t show up. Huston went on to throw his first four pitches right over the middle of the plate … only to walk the batter.

He yelled at his dad and was ejected from the game shortly after. The lesson? Arguing with the ump, no matter how egregious his calls, would always make matters worse.

James Street’s sons are now an architect, an actor, a volunteer/philanthropist, a business student, and a Major League Baseball pitcher. James, who never played professional sports, earns his living running a company that manages structured settlements.

Today, seeing how he is a parent to two boys himself, Huston will get to enjoy both sides of Father’s Day. And while it seems that the right-hander has achieved everything he could ever want, there remains the goal that has stayed with him for nearly a quarter of a century.

“If I could be like my dad, I’d be thrilled,” Huston said. “He’s still my role model.”